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Police, fire respond to hundreds of fireworks calls involving fires, fights, injuries

PITTSBURGH — Officials said fire and police departments in Pittsburgh responded to hundreds of calls overnight involving fireworks along with fights, injuries and fires as a result.

On July 4, the Pittsburgh police and fire departments responded to 131 complaint calls of fireworks which officials said were “the calls the taskforce was actually able to respond to.” After midnight, there were 125 more calls that the agencies “were forced to triage and prioritize” according to severity.

Police said a fight erupted between neighbors over fireworks in the 2000 block of Lowrie Street and five people were taken to the hospital with injuries.

A large brush fire burned due to fireworks in the 1500 block of Eckert Street, and police nearby responded to complaints of huge displays on East Ohio Street, Rhine Street and in Northview Heights.

Groups on Jacunda Street and Orchard Place held large block parties with large fireworks displays. Investigators said one of the displays was responsible for a two-alarm structure fire. There was also a large amount of garbage simply left in the street that will require Public Works crews to clean up.

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Another block party in Lewis Park had a fireworks display and crews had to respond there on two different occasions. The display sparked fires on the park’s dek hockey surface, basketball courts, playground surface, and equipment. Police said large amounts of trash were also left there.

In the 700 block of Bucyrus Street, a house caught on fire when a display box tipped over and the fireworks shot straight into the side of the home.

Police said they did issue citations and that there will be criminal charges for some of the more serious incidents.